Heater fan buzzes / hums
Discussion
My heater fan hums / buzzes and doesn't work any more. I've tested the fan with 12v direct and it works fine. Spinds freely and powerfully. This leaves me with the controller I assume?
On low it buzzes (the fan), medium it hums, and on full it either does nothing, or , occasionally spins, very slowly, then blows the fan fuse.
I assume it is the controller? I found a black box that has a ribbon cable from it to the fan controls so that must be it.
Is this a common fault? I'm good with electronics if it's a known fix.
Or new box I guess?
Or can the fan cause this, even though it runs great on direct 12v?
On low it buzzes (the fan), medium it hums, and on full it either does nothing, or , occasionally spins, very slowly, then blows the fan fuse.
I assume it is the controller? I found a black box that has a ribbon cable from it to the fan controls so that must be it.
Is this a common fault? I'm good with electronics if it's a known fix.
Or new box I guess?
Or can the fan cause this, even though it runs great on direct 12v?
You are right about the fuse being a puzzle - a pzzle no more.
It IS the fan :-( Pumped 12v into it again and it span, then madea friction kind of noise, then jammed again. :-(
Controller tested ok - tested the FET on it, All OK.
So.... it's air box out, heater matrix unplumbed and out, panel removed, and replace fan. Kind of have to do it now I have the dash off....
It IS the fan :-( Pumped 12v into it again and it span, then madea friction kind of noise, then jammed again. :-(
Controller tested ok - tested the FET on it, All OK.
So.... it's air box out, heater matrix unplumbed and out, panel removed, and replace fan. Kind of have to do it now I have the dash off....
RogerDodger said:
You are right about the fuse being a puzzle - a pzzle no more.
It IS the fan :-( Pumped 12v into it again and it span, then madea friction kind of noise, then jammed again. :-(
Controller tested ok - tested the FET on it, All OK.
So.... it's air box out, heater matrix unplumbed and out, panel removed, and replace fan. Kind of have to do it now I have the dash off....
You must be very pleased with yourself for re-checking the fan motor and it failing for youIt IS the fan :-( Pumped 12v into it again and it span, then madea friction kind of noise, then jammed again. :-(
Controller tested ok - tested the FET on it, All OK.
So.... it's air box out, heater matrix unplumbed and out, panel removed, and replace fan. Kind of have to do it now I have the dash off....
Well, got the fan out - not too difficult at all, and no need to remove any plumbing. Having the dash off certainly helped - would have been more cramped with the glove box appeture in the way.
Remove the battery and then the fuse box (one bolt for the fuse box) - unplug ECU and put loom in middle of dash out of the way.
Peel back the carpet if it is there - mine was already gone. You'll see the recirculating hatch at the bottom. The whole of the panel it is cut into comes off, with the fan atatched behind it.
There are some rivets that can be drilled out, or break the fibreglass, as I had to on the rear most rivit as it would not drill out. Run a blade round the silicone sealant. I then prised the panel off at the bottom with a screwdriver - it comes off fairly easily , sometimes you have to be quite firm!
I've marked ther rivet locations with red circles.
The whole panel is sealed on with white silicone. Just use a screwdriver to hack at it and pull it away in chunks. Particularly at the top.
When you have most of the bottom and mid section free you can pull it out. It takes some force but just pull it towards you and away from the wing. The top section which "lips" over, into the wing, will come away completely with some force. Just pull! The silicone will give way before the fibreglass will.
Here is the cavity behind.
To totally remove the panel you need to follow the cable for the recirculating flap back to the heating ECU box and unplug it.
Here is the bugger!
My fan is stiff to rotate. I've lubed the outer bearing and it runs well on 12v but it's still fairly stiff and I just don't want to chance it so I've ordered the fan and motor part online, new, for £85. You can buy a fan from racetech for £120 but I want to retain the original fan housing. Less work to do to get it back in.
Remove the battery and then the fuse box (one bolt for the fuse box) - unplug ECU and put loom in middle of dash out of the way.
Peel back the carpet if it is there - mine was already gone. You'll see the recirculating hatch at the bottom. The whole of the panel it is cut into comes off, with the fan atatched behind it.
There are some rivets that can be drilled out, or break the fibreglass, as I had to on the rear most rivit as it would not drill out. Run a blade round the silicone sealant. I then prised the panel off at the bottom with a screwdriver - it comes off fairly easily , sometimes you have to be quite firm!
I've marked ther rivet locations with red circles.
The whole panel is sealed on with white silicone. Just use a screwdriver to hack at it and pull it away in chunks. Particularly at the top.
When you have most of the bottom and mid section free you can pull it out. It takes some force but just pull it towards you and away from the wing. The top section which "lips" over, into the wing, will come away completely with some force. Just pull! The silicone will give way before the fibreglass will.
Here is the cavity behind.
To totally remove the panel you need to follow the cable for the recirculating flap back to the heating ECU box and unplug it.
Here is the bugger!
My fan is stiff to rotate. I've lubed the outer bearing and it runs well on 12v but it's still fairly stiff and I just don't want to chance it so I've ordered the fan and motor part online, new, for £85. You can buy a fan from racetech for £120 but I want to retain the original fan housing. Less work to do to get it back in.
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